ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves placed Launcher coach Roger McDowell on administrative leave Friday then that they investigate allegations he comments homophobic and crude gestures to fans before a match in San Francisco last weekend.
McDowell is also accused of using a baseball bat to threaten a fan who oppose his actions.
Analgesics former major league apologized in a statement, but the team prohibited entry for bench in a series of three games against the St. Louis Cardinals.
General Manager Frank Wren said he hoped that the inquiry wrapped by the end of the weekend and added that any punishment would be coordinated with the major League Baseball.
Suspension of de facto McDowell came hours after the announcement of the team, he was seeking the arrest Thursday of starting pitcher Derek Lowe charges drunk driving, a double dose of difficulty for a team that has always prided itself to avoid off-field incidents.
Wren addressed this issue at a meeting of team closed Friday, shortly before the Braves went to the stick practice.
"We have a reputation for a long time in this community in major League Baseball that we are very proud of", Wren said. "Unfortunately, errors were committed, and we will deal with them at the appropriate time after careful consideration of all the facts."
"Everyone", he added, "is very aware of the position that we have and, in the future, being more diligent in ensuring that confirm us this reputation we are so proud of."
While Wren would step to discuss possible sanctions, Manager Fredi Gonzalez said that he is not expected the incident cost McDowell her employment.
"In my opinion, it shouldn't." "It is really", said Gonzalez. "I am sure there are some circles that it will pass, some to apologize, that it should have to go through." But for a person to lose their job, I do not think. I hope that is not. ?
The altercation at AT & T Park in San Francisco was held Saturday last in the pregame batting practice. Justin Quinn was in the stands with his wife and twin daughters of 9 years old when he noticed McDowell harass the three men and asking, "Are you guys a couple homo or a trio."
After rough coach sexual gestures with her hips and a bat, Quinn said he shouted, "Hey, you kids here.". According to Quinn, said McDowell kids do not belong to a baseball park, picked up a bat, walking Quinn and asked, "How are your teeth worth?".
Quinn said that he felt threatened and that he was not sure if McDowell had intended to hit him.
"My children are in panic mode... they are as striking on me," Quinn said Wednesday at a press conference in the Office of the prominent Los Angeles Attorney Gloria Allred. "" "". I want to talk about him, trying to calm down and children shout. ?
Some parents who were in the stands with their children began to boo at McDowell and are dropped to retrieve their children. Quinn said that finally distributed McDowell.
"I am deeply sorry that I have answered the fans heckling in San Francisco," McDowell said in a statement, the audience only comment on this issue. "I am sorry for all of my actions."
Allred, said Friday that she was "very pleased" by the action of the Braves, adding that she spoke with the Commissioner of baseball Bud Selig on the incident earlier in the day.
"I was contacted by other fans who claim that they have witnessed the incidents in question and that declare that they corroborate the conduct that support us," Allred said in an e-mail. "We offer all relevant evidence to the Commissioner for his investigation." We appreciate the fact that the Commissioner said to me that the conduct alleged, if verified, would be totally unacceptable and that appropriate measures will be taken at the end of the investigation. We welcome the results. ?
Selig already called the allegations "very troubling" and said that he would await the results of the investigation of the team.
Gay and Lesbian Alliance against defamation called the Braves and the major League Baseball to take "real disciplinary and only send the message that homophobic insults have no place in sports."
"Professional sports events should be an environment that can take advantage of all the fans and families, not a place where children are exposed to threats of violence and discriminatory language,", said the President of the alliance, Jarrett Barrios.
League of brave tongue Coordinator, Dave Wallace, will take over McDowell during the investigation.
McDowell was an analgesic star with the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, plays a key role on the club in the world-winning series of New York in 1986. He was coach of Atlanta pitcher since 2005, earning praise for his work in the development of young hurler Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens.
"It is the most compatible guy that I've ever been around," said Gonzalez. "Strong, solid, strong person."
No comments:
Post a Comment